Vehicle propeller for endless conveyers



m lm-01 i l l l-xvl 1929- A. F. HAWKINS 1,7 40,014

VEHICLE PROPELLER FOR ENDLESS convmmns Filed s pt- 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 a my- I z a a l w v INVENTOR mma; z A

ATTORN EY Dec. 17, 1929. A. F. HAWKINS 1,740,014

VEHICLE PROPELLER FOR ENDLESS CQNVEYERS Filed Sept. 21, 1928 2 Sheet-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ALBA P1 HAWKINS.

ATTO RN BY been moved to the required location.

Patented Dec. 17, 1929 PATENT oFFicE ALDA F. HAWKINS, or FORT womm rnxas VEHICLE PROPELLER FOR.ENDIESS CON.FlYflElBSv Application filed September 21, 1:928. Serla1..No. 307,522.

My invention relates to conveyers and more particularly to propellers carried by endless conveyers; and the object is to provide simple devices for engaging a motor vehicle axle or differential gear housing for moving the vehicle or other object. The applicant is using these devices on endless conveyors for moving vehicles along while being washed or cleaned and dried. The devices may be manually positioned to engage a vehicle. The devices are automatically released when the vehicle has advantages of such propeller are that they are strong and durable and positive in action and a great convenience in washing or cleaning and drying automobiles. Other objects and advantages will be fully explained in the following description'and the invention will be more particularly pointed out in the claims. p

Reference is had to the drawings which form a part of this application.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation ofian endless conveyor equipped with the propellers and illustrating the action of" the propellers.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of a car axle and wheels, showing a propeller engaging the differential gear housing.

3 is an enlarged side elevation of a propeller and a portion of a conveyor.

Fig. 4 is an enlargedperspective view of a propeller attached to a conveyor, one of the propeller brackets omitted.

Fig. 5 is a plan view on a reduced scale, showing a portion of a conveyor and a propeller attached thereto.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of a car washing and cleaning plant, illustrating two conveyors and apparatus in action of cleaning automobiles. l

Similar characters of reference are used to indicate the same parts throughout the several views. V p

The drawings show conveyer'chains 1 made up of side bars 2 and connecting pins 3.

-The chain conveyers run along on platforms 4 and on sprocket wheels 5 making an endlessconveyer. A plurality of automooiles may be propelled and washed at the The accompanying *sition' the. ropellers' hang 'downward ly and same time. The plant illustrated turns out an automobile thoroughly washed and dried every" ten minutes: A; plurality'of propelling devices are attached to the'chains' for moving the vehicles. There must be a propelling device-ior-eacli,vehicle.

Each propeller includes a, pair ofbrackets 6 and 7'. These brackets are attached to two pinsrS of the chain 1 and thefhra'cket s '6 and 731 take the place. of two side bars 2 .v The brackets 6 and"? engage thepins 3- in thesame manner as the side bars 2. A standard 8 is loosely connected to the bracketsG and 7 by a pivot" stud 9 which is rigid with the brackets 61a n'd 7'an'd" projects through slot 10 inth'e' standard It is necessary thatthe standards ,8lie down on the chain 1 when the standard is not use, because the standard might. in

terfere with other cars or be; broken oft. The

propellers are held in position for service by the Pin 3'll t in front of the standard and I held in position by the pin or pivot stud 9 in connection with, the brackets 6 and 7, or

it may be said that thebraokets 6 and 7 hold the standard 8 in operative position by means oft'hei ivot stud9 on.v one side and the pin 3 holds t estandard on: the: other side. The standard carries arms 11" which in the illustration given engage the diii-erential gear housing 12 in operation; Itisapparent that the arms. 11 must vary with each. different typeof gear housing'and it is apparent that v the standard 8may be PI'OVlClBdWltll diiierent forms of engagingmeans so that the standard mayengage a car'axle or gearhousingofdifferent'types. I

1 In operation, the standard 8" is knocked down automaticallybyreasonof'the' slots 10 in the-standards.. Whenxthe standard 8 starts overt'he "sprocket wheel 5" at the end" of thetravel of the standarld, atooth .ofthesprocket wheel will push the standard 8 upwardly out offenga-gement with the pin 3; The standard 8"will thenbe thrown ba'ckwardly t0 the dotted outline position shown in- Fig. 3. The standard; 8; is thus made to release the car or vehicle aiter'the'vehicle has been cleaned. When theconveyer starts back, to starting poarefmantia y'turned tooperative'position.

The cleaning equipment includes hangers l l for water and air hose which are supported on bars 15 which are carried by upright sup ports 16. The equipment also includes platforms 17 for the workmen.

Fig. 5 shows the arms 11 provided with rollers. The object of these rollers is to prevent possible hanging of the arms on bolts or other objects and to make the propeller pass under gasoline tanks and spare tires.

hat I claim is, I

1. A propeller attached to a carrier chain for moving motor vehicles comprising a standard provided with means for engaging r an. axle of the. vehicle, and means for adjustably connecting said standard to an endless conveyor for giving the standard swinging and sliding mot-ion r-elativeto the conveyor.

2. A propeller attached to an endless conveyor for moving vehicles comprising a standard provided with means for engaging an axle of a vehicle, brackets fixedly attached to said conveyer, and means for adjustably connecting said standard to said brackets whereby said standard is slidably connected to said brackets for operative and inoperative purposes.

'3. A propeller attached to an endless conveyer for moving vehicles comprising a standard provided with means for engaging an axle of a vehicle, brackets operatively conid working position, and a pivot stud rigid with said brackets and adapted to move in said slot for permitting said standard to shift from inoperative position to operative position and vice versa. 7

In testimony whereof, I set my hand, thls 17th day of September, 1928.

ALDA F. HAWKINS. v

nected to said conveyer and said standard for holding said standard in substantially rigid upright position for moving vehicles and for carrying said standard in knock-down positions and means for connecting saidstandard to said brackets for permitting swinging and sliding motion of the standard relative to the brackets. I V I 4. A propeller attached to an endless coneyer for moving vehicles comprising ,a standard provided with a vertical slotand means for engaging an axle of a vehicle,

brackets operatively connected .to said 0011-, veyer i'or holding sald standard 1n substantially rigidnpright position and a pivot stud rigid with said brackets and projecting through said slot. 7 i g 5. A propeller in combination with an endless conveyer for moving vehicles comprising a standard provided with a. vertical slot and means for engaging an axle of a vehicle, brackets attached to'said conveyer and loose-- ly connected with said standard and utilizing one or" the pins of said conveyor to hold said standard in operative position and a pivot stud rigid with said brackets andadapting said brackets for carrying said.

standard in the knockdown position. 7

6. A propeller in combination with an'en-dconveyer for moving vehicles comprising a standard adapted to engage avehicle axle and provided with a slot therein, brackets attached to said conveyer and utilizing a pin f or said conveyer to hold said standard in rig- 

